Page 56 of Romancing the Heiress
Genevieve went to her mother, her face turning even more crimson. “Mama, what have you done?”
“I’ve only tried to claim what is ours. Aunt Marianne changed her will after she became sick. That should never have happened. There were no male heirs, justme. And you. All she left us was her jewelry, and now we’ll have to sell that.”
“But why? Papa is a captain. His income supports us.”
Mrs. Selkirk’s eyes had gone wild, and her face was as scarlet as her daughter’s. She spun on Genevieve. “Because I need the money!”
Mrs. Dunhill skulked from the bedchamber she shared with Mrs. Selkirk, her head downcast, her face pale. “Anne owes gambling debts,” she said quietly.
“Well, this is bloody familiar,” Phin muttered from beside Leah.
Mrs. Dunhill continued, “She planned to use Leah’s inheritance to fund Genevieve’s dowry and settle her gambling debts. However, she doesn’t get it until a year after her aunt’s death.”
“Which is in a week,” Leah said.
Mrs. Selkirk turned on her friend. “How could you betray me like this?”
“They already know the truth, and when they speak with Mr. Knott, they’ll learn that you told him Miss Webster had disappeared after Lady Norcott’s death.” Mrs. Dunhill gave her a sad, pleading look. “The scheme has failed, Anne. You must see that.”
“All I see is a friend who isn’t my friend. You snare a husband at this godforsaken festival and no longer need me.” Sniffing, Mrs. Selkirk strode into the bedchamber.
“Oh, Mama.” Genevieve put her hands to her face and began to cry harder as she turned and ran back to her room.
Mrs. Dunhill looked at Leah. “I’m sorry for my part in this scheme, which was only the knowledge of it. I will do whatever I must in order to see the inheritance rightfully distributed to you.”
“Thank you,” Leah said before turning to Phin. “I should go check on Genevieve. And I need to pack my things for London.”
“Do you want help?” Sadie asked.
“Give me a moment with Genevieve first.” Leah felt sorry for the girl. If it became known that her mother had attempted fraud, she would have no future at all.
Leah went into the bedchamber, where Genevieve sat on the edge of her bed, dabbing at her eyes with the handkerchief. She blew her nose as Leah sat down beside her.
“I didn’t know anything about Mama’s scheme,” Genevieve said. “Or the letters from your father. I’ll make sure you get them—if she still has them.”
“I believe you.” Leah patted the young woman’s arm. “I’m sorry about the suitors not calling this morning. I know you don’t care for Mr. Fearnehough. Perhaps one of the others will come through.”
“Doubtful.” She sniffed and made a horrid noise at the back of her throat. “But mayhap I’ll accept Mr. Fearnehough. He may be thirty-two, but he owns a respectable amount of land and is enraptured by the idea that I play the pianoforte.”
Leah gave her an encouraging smile. “That doesn’t sound so bad. For what it’s worth, I liked him.” She hoped Genevieve would very shortly stop thinking of him as “hideously old” if she indeed planned to accept his proposal.
“What will happen to my mother?” Genevieve asked.
“I don’t know.” Leah didn’t particularly want to see her prosecuted, despite how the woman had treated her.
“My father is going to be so angry when he learns what she’s done.”
“Perhaps he won’t need to,” Leah said reassuringly while making no promises. She didn’t know how this would turn out.
“He’ll know because I think my mother told him that Great-Aunt Marianne bequeathed her belongings to us. Besides, if my mother has gambling debts and can’t pay them now, my father is bound to find out.” Genevieve started to cry again. “I’m so humiliated. How can my mother be such a horrid person?”
“Please remember that doesn’t make you a horrid person,” Leah said softly, thinking of her own mother. How could she not? “My mother is even worse than yours. We must strive to be better, to do better. You are not your mother. At least, you don’t have to be.”
Genevieve sniffed. “Thank you. I’m sorry—if indeed your mother is worse. That can’t have been easy.”
Leah found it wasn’t difficult to summon a smile. “I survived. You will too.”
Sadie came to pack Leah’s clothing, taking silent direction from Leah as she moved about the room. Not too much later, they were ready to go.
